Photo of Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn' flower by Karl Gercens III

Photo by Karl Gercens III

Used with permission, all rights reserved

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Buy Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn'

Also Known As

  • Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum 'Popcorn'
  • Popcorn Double Viburnum
  • Popcorn Japanese Snowball
  • Popcorn Japanese Snowball Bush

Plant type

shrub

size

  • H: 6'-10'
  • W: 5'-8'

planting zones

  • 5a-9b

4 inch pot | $17

Ships USPS, based on weight/location

Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

1 gallon bagged root ball | $26

Ships UPS, flat charge based on order total

30 at Gossler Farms

More Options

Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn' plant details

Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn' is a broadleaf deciduous shrub with green foliage. In spring and summer cream and white flowers emerge followed by red fruit. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and even moisture - regular water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and humidity tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn'

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: adoxaceae, caprifoliaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 5 FT - 8 FT - wide, 6 FT - 10 FT - tall
Flowers: cream and white blooms in spring and summer
Uses: fall color

GROWING CONDITIONS for Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn'

USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - dappled shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: heat and humidity
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This viburnum will literally cover itself with hundreds of popcorn ball sized white flowers when in full bloom. Very few of the leaves will show.
Like a mound of newly popped popcorn, perfect round flower balls all along the tiered branches of this new 8-10' David Leach selection make it an incredible sight in spring! as do its fruit and fall color in autumn. S-PSh/M
This FANTASTIC deciduous shrub has so many balls of pure white that they almost obscure the foliage for weeks in the summer! 5-6'H x 4-6'W – sun – not fussy about soil – nice scarlet fall color too! – Superb!
Japanese Snow Ball Viburnum is a thick shrub native to open woodlands throughout Japan and China where it is a prolific spring bloomer. 'Popcorn' is a variety that produces significantly more blooms and has larger flower clusters than the typical species, the plants are also shorter with wider branches which lends the variety for use as a short hedge plant. The leaves also have an attractive ruffled texture which provides summer interest.
Heralding summer, this densely growing Viburnum displays sprightly round clusters of clean white flowers, borne in such profusion they nearly obscure the good-looking deciduous foliage. Autumn brings brilliant scarlet hues to the veined deep green leaves. Let Geranium 'White Ness' brighten its base while echoing 'Popcorn's greens and snowy whites.
Imagine a shrub all covered with popcorn balls. No problem figuring out how they named this one. Wonderful scent in addition. Purple/red fall color. Moist soil in sun to partial shade. Gets about 8 feet tall and as wide. So many people have asked about buying this one that we decided we'd better find a source for them. Not a lot of them, so if you're interesed, don't wait too long to order yours.

By: Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery

Many white flowers in spring cover shrub, deep green veined leaves turn bronzy red in fall. Zones 5-8.
Japanese Snowball. An awesome sight in bloom! Hundreds of small, round popcorn balls line every branch. A newly released selection hybridized by Dr. David Leach. Very hardy. Wow! Wow! Wow! "Possibly the most elegant of all flowering shrubs." (M. Dirr) Beautiful burgundy Fall leaf color. Beautiful red berries. Renewal pruning to 12" if necessary. This cultivar is notable for its rounded clusters of pure white flowers that apparently resemble popcorn to some degree. It is a smaller grower to 8' tall with sporadic production of red fruit.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

Dirr's favorite form of the plicatums. Blooms later than the plicatum tomentosums, and seem more refined, less gaudy.

By: Specialty Ornamentals

This grows to be 8' tall and 6' wide and is very hardy, to -23 °F. Flowers are small white 'snowballs' and are followed by red fruit.

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

Nice broad deciduous shrub much hardier than we need around here. What we do need are the rounded pure white flowers in such excess as to nearly obscure the foliage. This is a guilt-free celebration of excess - it's not like you're towing your Hummer with your Winnebago. Good fall color.

Gardening facts about Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn' plant

How to Grow Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn'

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun - dappled shade
  • Water Needs

    • even moisture - drought tolerant
  • Soil Needs

    • average
    • well-drained
    • rich
  • Special Situation

    • heat tolerant
    • humidity tolerant

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • white
    • cream
  • Wildlife

    • bees
    • butterflies
    • hummingbirds
  • Fruit

    • red
  • Flower Season

    • spring
    • summer
  • Foliage Season

    • deciduous
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